Apple halts sales of the Apple iPhone 4S in China after fights break out

Sales of the Apple iPhone 4S have been halted at all of the manufacturer's stores in China as the large crowds that had been waiting in line to buy the device became unruly. The problem started when Apple announced that it had to delay the opening of one of its stores in the Sanlitun area of Beijing. A large crowd had already gathered outside the store, waiting to buy the iconic touchscreen device through an official Apple Store for the first time in the country.

Once the delay was made known, the large crowd started throwing eggs and fights broke out with police. Apple then decided not to open the store at Sanlitun due to the large crowd and for the protection and safety of those working inside the store. The Cupertino based firm then temporarily halted iPhone 4S sales at all of its retail stores in Beijing and Shanghai.

Apple said that those wanting to buy the Apple iPhone 4S could still purchase the phone online, or at China Unicom locations. The carrier is the only Chinese operator that is authorized to sell the Apple iPhone 4S although a recent report said that a special version of the device for China Telecom's CDMA-2000 network recently received regulatory approval in China.

Meanwhile, the decision by Apple not to open the store in Sanlitun has left a number of people upset. One man told Reuters TV, "I've been waiting here since yesterday afternoon, then this morning
they say they won't sell. They broke
customers' hearts." This past May, the launch of the Apple iPad 2 in China also turned violent with four people hospitalized.

This follows the Apple incident in Hong Kong, the RIM riot in Indonesia, and you would think the manufacturers would get the hint. When people smell an opportunity to make money, they ruin it for the good customers.

It's one thing to have pent-up demand for your product, it's another thing when it becomes pandemonium. Apple should have done a better job.

I have ALWAYS opposed apple for its wrong attitude but what did apple do wrong here? Its not Apple who made people do aggression and I believe it was the right decision to halt sales for the sake of their personnel's security.

Apple knew from past experiences (a) such as the recent introduction of the iPads in China (or the iPhone 4S in Hong Kong), it led to fights, etc. (b) that there are more customers than products, then Apple ought to adjust their strategy. You can't have people waiting if there aren't enough products -- you have a lot of angry and disappointment people.

I would use a lottery system if can prevent fights -- I understand people will sell their claims but that is no different than people standing in line to sell the physical units after purchase. Or use deposits until the pent-up demand is met.

There's apparantly a great misconception about this. It's foxconn who has been involved in several controversies – most relating to how it manages employees in China NOT apple. It's a business like (example) Samsung manufactures the A5 chips for the iphone 4S.

Here's what wikepedia says:

Foxconn is the world's largest maker of electronic components including printed circuit boards.

Due to its dominance in this specialized outsourcing sector, it is popular with European, Japanese, and American companies wishing to reduce labor costs without sacrificing quality. Well-known products Foxconn manufactures include the iPhone, the iPad, the PlayStation 3, the Xbox 360, the Wii, and the Amazon Kindle. It is the largest exporter in Greater China and the second largest exporter in the Czech Republic.

International attention has repeatedly been drawn to the suicides of workers and the conditions of employment.

you are comparing a national statistic that includes everyone and anyone including people that have been institutionalized for severe depression and comparing them against workers that have been beaten down and abused so bad that they feel the best thing for their family is to commit suicide at work!! And of ALL the foxconn factories, these suicides ONLY happen at APPLE factories because of ALL the factories, the APPLE factories are considered the worst working conditions.. in a country that routinely abuses its workers. Think about that.

honestly, i didnt think even u would try something so stupid. thanks for proving me wrong.

I must admit, I think this is silly. I have waited in line for items before but I have never been so in love with anything to start a fight or throw eggs. This is ridiculous. Some people really do lack composure over a device, just a device people.

Wow, fighting over a phone. Surely there are far more important issues to get worked up over.
The local shipping company screwed up my iphone delivery and i had to wait 2 extra days to get it but i never felt the urge to throw eggs.

Calm down China, why eager to buy an iPhone 4s immediately? Apple will release an iPhone 5 then maybe 5s. Just like releasing two iPads in a year, iPad and iPad2 last year and expecting iPad3 and iPad4 this year. (I just read an article that Apple will releasing two iPads)

This has nothing to do with which iPhone it is, people really wanted this deal because of alot of tight budget people who can't afford a iPhone 4s at $200. Even if they waited to the iPhone 5 came out, they still might not have the money to buy it so this is their best choice.

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